A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Helsinki vs. Hiroshima for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Helsinki or Hiroshima?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Helsinki and Hiroshima can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Helsinki

Helsinki is a nature-focused, coastal, and environmentally conscious city. Many visitors also come to Helsinki because of it's amazing beauty. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food. See Helsinki travel costs.

Hiroshima

Hiroshima is a memorable, meaningful, and park-filled city. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums. See Hiroshima travel costs.

Helsinki and Hiroshima: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Helsinki or Hiroshima?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Hiroshima than Helsinki. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Hiroshima is very popular for its museums and attractions, while Helsinki attracts visitors for its impressive beauty. Helsinki is famous for its rich culture that includes traditional elements as well as an active subculture scene. Hiroshima is famous for being the sight of the world's first atomic bomb detonation. It is also well known for Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

How is Helsinki different from Hiroshima?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Hiroshima and Helsinki. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Helsinki or Hiroshima?

Hiroshima is a world-class destination for its museums and history. Also, Helsinki is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

The museums and tourist attractions in Hiroshima are world-renowned. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park was built to commemorate the victims of the world's first nuclear attack. The park also serves as a sight to promote long term peace. In the park you'll find the Peace Memorial Museum, the Memorial Cenotaph, the Atom Bomb Dome, and the Flame of Peace. Other sights in Hiroshima include the Itsukushima shrine, the Hiroshima Castle, and Mitaki-dera Temple.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Helsinki. Many of the city's sights and attractions center around nature and the water. Major hightlights of the city include the Fortress of Sveaborg, Seurasaari open-Air Museum, and Temppeliaukio Rock Church. The city is also home to The National Museum of Finland.

Is the Food Better in Helsinki or Hiroshima? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Helsinki and Hiroshima both to be great destinations.

Helsinki has a huge number of terrific restaurants. Food in town is all about local flavors and simple ingredients. The dishes let the flavor speak for itself without fancy cooking techniques or complex flavor combinations. Many of the restaurants are locally sourced with traditional ingredients. You'll find a lot of seafood, herring, grilled sausages, pancakes, and desserts.

Dining out in Hiroshima is an experience not to be missed. There are many local dishes that you'll find in restaurants around town. Some of the best dining areas are around Hiroshima Station and in downtown Hiroshima. Make sure you try the Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, the local oysters, and tsukemen.

Is Helsinki or Hiroshima Better for Nightlife?

The nice nightlife scene is relatively similar in Helsinki and Hiroshima.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Helsinki. The nightlife scene is at its best on weekends when the city center comes to life with parties, dance clubs, and student activities. Many of the best clubs and bars are concentrated in the city center. Weekends are a bit calmer and things quiet down a lot.

Hiroshima has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The city has many hidden pubs and traditional Japanese bars. The most vibrant nightlife scene is in the Chugoku-Shikoku district, particularly around Nagarekawa Street.

Is the Shopping Better in Helsinki or Hiroshima?

Shoppers can find a variety of great stores in both Helsinki and Hiroshima.

Helsinki is well-known for its shopping. The city is great for shopping, with many brands focused on sustainability. There are local boutiques as well as name brands. Flea markets and vintage shops are also popular.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Hiroshima. There are outlet malls as well as morning markets, that make for interesting shopping. Head to old Sanyodo Road to shop where the locals shop and for international brands head to Hondori Central Shopping District.

Is Helsinki or Hiroshima More Beautiful?

Helsinki is an unbeatable place for its scenery and beauty. However, Hiroshima is not a destination known for its beauty.

Many visitors also come to Helsinki because of it's amazing beauty. The city's location on the tip of a peninsula means that the water has a huge influence over daily life. There are more than 300 islands in the area and plenty of nature and parkland. The city is filled with striking color and tons of beauty.

Hiroshima is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Helsinki or Hiroshima Better for Families?

Helsinki is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Hiroshima is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

Helsinki is a very family-friendly destination. The coastal setting offers many activities that kids and adults alike will enjoy. This capital city has a calm atmosphere with plenty of parkland to explore. The shoreline is dotted by islands where you'll also find a zoo and a fort. Kids will also enjoy exploring the islands by boat.

Hiroshima is a family-friendly place to visit. Tragedy often comes to mind when you think of this city, as it was the sight of the first atomic bomb detonation. Older kids will learn a lot from a visit, but it may be a bit overwhelming for younger kids. There are still many things to do with kids of all ages in the city though, such as feeding the koi fish at Shukeien Park or visiting the floating Itsukushima shrine.

Is Helsinki or Hiroshima Better for Couples?

Helsinki is a great city for romance. Also, Hiroshima is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its romantic activities.

Helsinki is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. The city's many parks offer the perfect setting for a picnic or a walk. There are also botanical gardens, evening boat rides, and saunas that will help you enjoy a romantic trip away.

Hiroshima makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There is plenty of nature and green space in the city. Couples will enjoy visiting the Hiroshima Castle or wandering through the gardens such as Shukkeien or the Hiroshima Botanical Garden.

Is Helsinki or Hiroshima Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Helsinki and Hiroshima are both nice destinations for backpackers.

Helsinki is a good city to visit for backpackers. With its active nightlife scene, vibrant atmosphere, and inclusive personality, this city is a fun place for backpackers, but you should expect to pay a premium for the experience. Many backpackers avoid the city because they have heard how expensive it is. There are a few hostels around that will help you keep costs a bit more manageable.

Plenty of backpackers visit Hiroshima. There are many hostels around town and plenty of things to see an do.

Is Helsinki or Hiroshima Better for Students?

Helsinki is a great city for its student-friendly activities. However, Hiroshima is not popular with students.

Students come from all over to stay in Helsinki. The city has an active student life with plenty of culture and nature. It's active nightlife scene and beautiful natural areas make it a wonderful place to study.

Hiroshima is not popular with students.

Is Helsinki or Hiroshima Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find great public transit in both Helsinki and Hiroshima.

The public transit in Helsinki can get you around easily. Transit options include bus, tram, metro, commuter train and ferry services.

Hiroshima offers a very effecient public transportation network. There's a good tram and streetcar network around town as well as a ferry connecting the city to Miyajima Island. There are also buses around town.

Is Helsinki or Hiroshima a more walkable city?

Hiroshima is a very popular place for its high level of walkability. Also, Helsinki is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its ease of walking around.

Hiroshima is a very walkable city. If you base yourself in downtown Hiroshima, you can explore many areas on foot.

Helsinki is a somewhat walkable city. Many neighborhoods are easy to explore on foot. The air is also clean and the setting is refreshing.

For even more information, also check out Is Helsinki Worth Visiting? and Is Hiroshima Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Hiroshima or Helsinki?

How long in Helsinki or Hiroshima?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Helsinki and Hiroshima. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Helsinki than in Hiroshima. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Helsinki, and 2-3 days is enough time in Hiroshima.

Families should spend more time in Helsinki than Hiroshima. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Helsinki, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Helsinki than Hiroshima. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Helsinki that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Hiroshima than Helsinki if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Hiroshima.

One day in Helsinki or Hiroshima?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Helsinki. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

The city of Hiroshima offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Helsinki or Hiroshima?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the nature-focused destination of Helsinki. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Hiroshima is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Hiroshima, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Helsinki or Hiroshima?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the coastal city of Helsinki. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Hiroshima is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that museums is why people visit. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Helsinki or Hiroshima?

Helsinki is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Hiroshima is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that museums is why people visit. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Finland, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Finland, The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Helsinki and Hiroshima, we can see that Helsinki is more expensive. And not only is Hiroshima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Helsinki is in Europe and Hiroshima is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Hiroshima would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hiroshima and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Helsinki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Helsinki than you might in Hiroshima.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Helsinki Expensive? and Is Hiroshima Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Helsinki or Hiroshima?

Hiroshima has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Helsinki. When comparing the sizes of Helsinki and Hiroshima, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Helsinki or Hiroshima?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Helsinki or Hiroshima in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Helsinki and Hiroshima. The summer months attract visitors to Helsinki because of the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Hiroshima this time of year.

In July, Helsinki is generally much colder than Hiroshima. Daily temperatures in Helsinki average around 17°C (62°F), and Hiroshima fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

In Helsinki, it's very sunny this time of the year. Helsinki usually receives more sunshine than Hiroshima during summer. Helsinki gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Hiroshima receives 194 hours of full sun in the summer.

Hiroshima receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Helsinki usually receives less rain than Hiroshima. Helsinki gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Hiroshima receives 238 mm (9.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Helsinki or Hiroshima in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Helsinki as well as Hiroshima. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Helsinki this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Hiroshima for the shopping scene.

Helsinki is much colder than Hiroshima in the autumn. The daily temperature in Helsinki averages around 6°C (42°F) in October, and Hiroshima fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

In the autumn, Helsinki often gets less sunshine than Hiroshima. Helsinki gets 90 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hiroshima receives 193 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Hiroshima. Helsinki usually gets less rain in October than Hiroshima. Helsinki gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Hiroshima receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Helsinki or Hiroshima in the Winter?

Both Hiroshima and Helsinki are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Helsinki for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Hiroshima in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Hiroshima can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Helsinki. In the winter, Helsinki is much colder than Hiroshima. Typically, the winter temperatures in Helsinki in January average around -6°C (21°F), and Hiroshima averages at about 4°C (40°F).

Helsinki usually receives less sunshine than Hiroshima during winter. Helsinki gets 39 hours of sunny skies, while Hiroshima receives 153 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Helsinki usually receives less rain than Hiroshima. Helsinki gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Hiroshima receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Helsinki or Hiroshima in the Spring?

Both Hiroshima and Helsinki during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Helsinki in the spring for the natural beauty.

Helsinki can get quite cold in the spring. In April, Helsinki is generally much colder than Hiroshima. Daily temperatures in Helsinki average around 3°C (37°F), and Hiroshima fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).

In the spring, Helsinki often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Hiroshima. Helsinki gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hiroshima receives 193 hours of full sun.

Hiroshima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Helsinki usually gets less rain in April than Hiroshima. Helsinki gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Hiroshima receives 168 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Hiroshima and Helsinki